Here was the scenario last Saturday:
Duke was up 16-7 against VT with 1 minute left in the 3rd Quarter.
Earlier in the game, at the start of the second quarter, when they were up 10-0, a pass by Duke's QB from the VT 27 was intercepted at the VT 3. This would lead to the drive that allowed VT to score its only TD of the first half.
Duke had already fumbled once earlier - in the VT red zone - but their defense had stopped VT from scoring.
Anyways, the managed to get two FGs in the 3rd quarter and were up 16-7 (in a very defensive game) with 2:20 left in 3rd had just intercepted a VT pass at the VT 36.
Three plays later, with 1 min left in the 3rd quarter, Duke's QB throws an INT that's returned all the way to the Duke 9. But Duke's defense holds at the Duke 5 and VT only gets a FG to end the 3rd quarter.
Immediately after that - right after Duke's defense holds against a threat inside its own 10 - Duke's returner fumbles the kickoff at the team's own 27 to start the 4th quarter. VT's offense came right out and scored a TD to make it 17-16 in the 4th.
Duke was never able to recover, only able to get in range for a 40 yard FG with 2:20 left in the game and missing it.
Had Duke won, this game wouldn't have mattered; they just would have needed to beat Wake Forest to win the division.
...I like Cut and I like what he's done with their program, don't get me wrong on that.
But with how they lost that game, to who they lost, and with what was on the line...they choked.
They - unfortunately but massively - choked away not just that game, but a division title/playing in the ACC Championship for a second year in a row.
